Ceiling grid runner connection means



Oct. 23, 1962 G. T. sowlNsKl 3,059,735

CEILING GRID RUNNER coNNEcIIoN MEANS g l V-Zal 3,ii59,735 CEILING GRIDRUNNER CUNNECTION MEANS Gerard T. Sowinski, Cheektowaga, N.Y., assignorto National Gypsum Company, Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of DelawareFiled ian. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 786,822 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) Ihisinvention relates to improvements in means for connecting the main andcross runners of a ceiling grid.

In the construction of suspended or false ceilings for aco-ustical orother purposes, it is `common practice to first form a grid by hanging aplurality of main inverted T runners at spaced intervals and tointerconnect the main runners -by similar but shorter cross runners.Following this, the grip spaces are filled by installing acoustical orother type panels, blocks or tiles, each panel, etc. being precut tosize so that it rests on the horizontal legs or flanges of the adjacentrunners.

However, considerable difficulty has been encountered in providing gridspaces of uniform size and shape because of the means presently employedin 4connecting the main and cross runners. lFor example, severalexisting systems rely on the use of slots in the vertical leg of themain runner and extensions on the cross runners `for connecting thesame. As will be apparent, the adjustability of the cross runners alongthe main runners is severely limited by this type of connection, evenwhere a plurality of slots are made in the main runners. Likewise, Whereit is desired to have two oppositely disposed cross runners, specialleft and right offset extensions must be used, as the slots are normallydesigned to receive only one extension.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide animproved means for connecting the main and cross runners iu a ceilinggrid which overcomes the disadvantages of the aforementioned existingsystems.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improvedconnection means which permits the cross runners to be readily andeasily attached to the main runners and in such a manner that crossrunners on opposite sides of a given main runner are in perfectalignment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a main and cross runnerconnection which can lbe adjusted after the acoustical panels arepositioned on the horizontal iianges or legs of the runners so that theexposed portions of such anges or legs in a row of cross runners can beeas-ily placed in perfect longitudinal alignment. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip adapted to bereadily and adjustably mounted on the vertical leg of the main runnerfor connect-ion with the cross runner, thereby eliminating the need forslots in the main runner and permitting any desired adjustment of thecross runner along the main runner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip adapted to connecttwo oppositely disposed cross runners to the main runner, therebyeliminating the need for special left and right offset extensions on thecross runners.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip adapted tofacilitate and maintain a stable connection between the main and crossrunners.

Another object of the 4inv'ention is to provide a clip -that is simplein construction yet most effective in operation.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentupon consideration of the following detailed description andaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. v1 is a partial perspective view of a portion of an unassembledceiling grid illustrating the structural elements associated with the`runners and constituting a 3,059,735 Patented oet. 2s, 1962 preferredembodiment of the invention for connecting thc cross runners to the mainrunners;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1 r

series of main runners 10 are arranged in parallel relation t-o oneanother and the cross runners 15 are interposed between adjacent pairs'of main runners 16 and are intended to be perpendicular thereto. Eachmain runner 10 is provided with a vertical leg 11 and a horizontal legor `flange 12, the vertical leg being provided with a plurality of holes13 at longitudinally spaced intervals therealong for receiving hookedsuspension rods 14. The rods 14 may be connected to any suitable support(not shown) for suspending the main runners 10 in spaced parallelrelation. Each cross runner 15, which is to be connected betweenadjacent main runners 10, is provided with a vertical leg 16 and ahorizontal leg or iiange 17. As also seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, vertical leg16 at each end is preferably rounded off at its lower corner 18 tofacilitate assembly with main runners 10,

and each end lof horizontal leg y17 is cut back at 19 in order tofacilitate such assembly and to produce a substantially flush tit withthe horizontal legs 12 of main runners 10.

The present invention relates to the means for connecting the crossrunners 15 to the main runners 10. In accordance rwith the invention7the vertical leg 16 of each cross runner 15 is provided at each end witha lateral ear 20, which is preferably made of sheet metal and bent intoa T-shape to provide spaced legs 21. The resilient legs 21 are sprungover the ends o-f vertical leg 16 and secured thereto in any suitablemanner, as by weld-ing (not shown). This locates ear 20 so that itprojects latterally from and across the end of vertical leg 16, therebyforming part of the means for connecting cross runner 15' to mainrunners 10. It is also preferred that ear 20 be spaced slightly from theend of vertical leg 16 by legs 21 to facilitate connection to mainrunner 10.

` While the above is the preferred construction of ear 20 and itsattachment to vertical cross runner leg 16, it will be evident that ear20 could be constructed so as to eliminate legs 21 and be suitablyattached directly to or made integral with leg 16, as well as to extendlaterally to only one side thereof.

The remainder of the means for connecting the main and cross runners isprovided by U-shaped clip 22. Like ear 20, clip 22 is preferably madefrom sheet metal which is shown as being bent into a substantiallyU-shape to provide spaced, flat side walls 23. As seen in FIG. 2, sidewalls 23 are resiliently biased toward each other, but are readilyspread apart to spring over vertical leg 11 of main runner 10. Thisfacilitates mounting clip 22 on the main runner and permits `any desiredadjustment of the clip longitudinally along the main runner. At each oftheir free ends 24, side walls 23 are bent outwardly to form a taperedentrance to fur-ther facilitate mounting of the clip 22 over verticalleg 11 of main runner 10. At least one side wall 23 is preferably struckor stamped out to form an opening and at least one tab inclinedoutwardly toward the closed end of clip 22 from an end of the openingnear the open end of the clip for guiding an ear such as 2d into theopening. In the preferred construction however, each side wall 23 d isprovided with a T-shaped opening or slot 26 and a pair of tabs 25 spacedhorizontally by the vertical portion 27 of slot 26 and inclined upwardlyand outwardly from the lower end of the horizontal portion 28 of slot26, the tabs functioning to guide ear 20 into opening 26.

In assembling a cross runner 15 with main runners 10, the cross runneris positioned above the main runners as illustrated in FIG. 1, afterwhich each end of the cross runner is lowered to insert ears 20 overguide tabs 25. As each ear 20 is forced down over tabs 25 it spreadsside wall 23 of clip 22 away from vertical leg 11 of main runner untilear 20 extends through opening 26 into rm engagement between side wall23 and vertical leg 11, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. To facilitate thisassembly operation, the lower corner of each end of the vertical leg 16of cross runner 15 is rounded oif at 18, thereby preventing the lowercorner of leg 16 from catching on the lower edge of vertical slotportion 27 and providing clearance between this corner of leg 16 andtapered end 24 of clip side wall 23V. In addition, the horizontal leg orflange 17 of cross runner 15 is cut back at 19 to permit full engagementbetween ear 20, clip side wall 23 and vertical main runner `leg 11, aswell as to provide a substantially ush `and conterminous iit withhorizontal main runner flange 12.

Referring once again to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that twooppositely disposed cross runners are illustrated therein as beingconnected to main runner 10 by the single clip 22. This provides asimple yet most effective connection and avoidsV the use of any slots inmain runner 10, or any special left or right ofrset extensions on thecross runners 15. In addition, the adjustability of clip 22 along mainrunners 10 permits cross runners 15 to be connected at any desiredposition ialong the main runners for adjusting and aligning the gridopenings to facilitate installation of the ceiling panels (not shown).Thus, a firm and stable yet adjustable clamping connection is providedbetween the cross and main runners.

Accordingly, it will now be apparent how the invention accomplishes eachof its aforesaid objects. While a single, preferred embodiment of theinvention has been described herein, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope ofwhich is to be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ceiling grid having a main inverted T runner and a crossinverted T runner, the combination therewith of means for connectingsaid runners comprising an ear extending laterally from the end of thevertical leg of said cross runner adjacent said main runner, and a clipadjustably mounted over the vertical leg of said main runner andincluding a side wall having an opening therein, said ear extendingthrough said opening into engagement between said side wall and saidvertical leg l of said main runner, said side wall also having a tabinclined upwardly and outwardly from a lower end of said opening forguiding said ear into said opening.

2. In ya. ceiling grid having a main inverted T runner and a crossinverted T runner, the combination therewith of means for connectingsaid runners comprising an car extend-ing laterally from and across theend of the vertical leg of said cross runner adjacent said main runner,and a clip adjustably mounted over the vertical leg of said main runnerand including a side wall having an opening therein, said ear extendingthrough said opening into engagement between Said side wall and saidvertical leg of said main runner, said side wall also having a pair ofhorizontally spaced tabs inclined upwardly and outwardly from a lowerend of said opening for guiding said ear into said opening.

3. In a ceiling grid having a main inverted T runner and a crossinverted T runner, the combination therewith of means for connectingsaid runners comprising an ear extending laterally from and across theend of the vertical leg of said cross runner adjacent said main runner,and a clip adjustably mounted over the vertical leg of said main runnerand including a side wall having a T-shaped opening therein, said earextending through said opening into engagement between said side walland said vertical leg of said main runner, said side wall also having apair of tabs spaced horizontally 4by the vertical portion of saidopening and inclined upwardly and outwardly from the lower end of thehorizontal portion of said opening for guiding said ear into saidopening.

4. A clip adapted to be adjustably mounted over the vertical leg of aninverted T runner in a ceiling grid and including a side wall, said side-wall having an opening therein and a pair of laterally spaced tabsinclined outwardly toward the closed end of said clip from an end ofsaid opening near the open end of said clip.

5. A clip adapted to be adjustably mounted over the vertical leg of aninverted T runner in a ceiling grid and including a side wall, said sidewall having a T-shaped opening therein and a pair of tabs spacedlaterally by the longitudinal portion of said opening and inclinedoutwardly toward the closed end of said clip from the end of the lateralportion of said opening near the open end of said clip.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 195,623Lyon Sept. 25, 1877 409,893 Wray Aug. 27, 1889 706,347 Simpson Aug. 5,1902 1,235,636 Bagnall Aug. 7, 1917 2,220,469 Wouters Nov. 5, 19402,676,679 Price Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,121 Canada July 3,1956

